Portland

Tonight! At The Woods! The Red River

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If you’re looking for something to do to end your hopefully lazy overcast Sunday, head down to The Woods for a night with The Red River. The Long Beach, California band who once called Portland their home changes form every time I see them live, and each time it’s that much better. Anywhere from just Bills Roberts sincerely singing to a rag-tag orchestra of horns, strings, and a choir of friends, The Red River could fill the halls of the largest amiptheatre with the sounds of their simple, yet powerfully gigantic sound. Catch them tonight at 9 with Wild Ones and Ocean age. It is definitely not one to be missed. -Mike Harper

 

 

Nashville

The Apache Relay @ Exit/In, 3/1/11

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Soul-drenched blues-and-jazz tunes from G. Love & Special Sauce await you at Exit/In March 1. And the Philadelphia visitors are in good local company; The Apache Relay, winners of The Deli Nashville’s Best of 2010 fan poll, will be there too to churn out some indie-roots rock (if you aren’t familiar, check out their beautiful 2010 release 1988). Not a bad way to spend a Tuesday night, just saying. And if you miss them on Tuesday, you can catch them again at Exit March 11. Show is at 8:30.

Portland

The Devil In Outer Space

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The Strangled Darlings is an incredibly insinuative name for what this multi-talented duo musically stands for –– something beautiful and sweet sharpened by an overwhelming reality. Here, we have vocalist George Veech, with his recordings of mandolin, guitar and tenor banjo, and then we have cellist Jessica Anderly, who unconventionally utilizes a five string cello as bass. Then, these two collaborate with percussionist Jolie Clausen and violinist Sharron Cannon for recording of The Devil in Outer Space. The result? The cabaret folklore and musical diversity of Beirut, meddled with the explicit straightforwardness of the Pixies, or, say, a classic Modest Mouse.

Granted, that’s a strange mix, but let’s take their feverish lyrical content into consideration. In "Blue Sailor" there’s a priest with a shovel, an eclipsed moon in a lagoon, men with "sand in their hats" during "jellyfish season," all of which is haunted by a wavering saw and Veech’s gauntly voice. The whole thing is very Big Fish meets the Nightmare Before Christmas.

Meanwhile, more instrumentally-full songs like "The Devil in Outer Space" allow Anderly’s profound understanding of rhythm really shine through, proving their captivating and truly authentic understanding of what folk music should be.

The Devil in Outer Space will be released this upcoming Tuesday, March 1, and don’t miss their release party happening at Alberta Street Public House on March 5; it’ll run ya a mere $5. – April Ehrlich

Philadelphia

Blood Feathers Gang Back Together Again at KFN Feb. 27

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Tonight at Kung Fu Necktie there will be vintage licks, fancy footwork and pompadours galore because Philly’s time-traveling rockers Blood Feathers are back from the 50’s and ready to get down. Ben Dickey and Drew Mills have been playing out as a duo quenching peoples’ thirst for Blood (Feathers) and unveiling some new tunes they have been working on while their drummer is on tour with Sun Airway. This evening could be your chance to hear some of those new ditties full band style, and it will be your last chance for a while because tonight is their only scheduled Philly gig until the summer! If comfort in familiarity is your thing, then come out and hear them croon their way through cuts from their latest stellar LP Goodness Gracious. I would personally love to hear them cover “Greased Lightning” but it may take some convincing. Joining Blood Feathers is tape-deck southern rockers who are actually from Bucks County/Philly, The Cobbs, led by, yes, two Cobb brothers. It’s beautiful outside! See you there! Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 Front St., 8pm, $8, 21+ (Photo by Derek Brad) – Adam G.
 
Philadelphia

Folkadelphia Wraps-up w/Meg Baird at JB’s Feb. 27

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To say that Meg Baird is experienced is an understatement. Really, the word doesn’t rightly encompass her dues paid in the indie music scene. After all, the Philly-based New Jersey native started and fronted in the much adored freak-folk outfit Espers, collaborated with her sis, Laura, in the equally adored The Baird Sisters, has appeared on albums by Bonnie "Prince" Billy and Sharon Van Etten, and now sits behind the skins for Richie Charles’ new punk band Watery Love. If anything, she’s more of a success story, even if it’s in the confines of the underground. And it’s only right, too. Her bittersweet acoustic strums, weary lullaby vocal teases, and stark but swaying melodies can draw in deeply–just listen to her 2007 solo debut, Dear Companion (it can leave you breathless, no doubt). Check out the power of her verse this afternoon at Johnny Brenda’s for the final installment of the Folkadelphia concert series. Baird, along with Maine’s husband/wife experi-folk duo Arborea (local musicians Helena Espvall, Mary Lattimore, and Jesse Sparhawk will sit in for the set). And make sure to stay for the show’s Q&A session with Gene Shay of XPN’s Folk Show radio show. You won’t regret it. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 1pm, $7, 21+ – Annamarya Scaccia
 
L.A.

Download “Paint Your Lips” by Wake Up Lucid

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"Paint Your Lips" is the new single from local trio Wake Up Lucid off their recent EP, Sugar. What starts with a four count, ends with sex-drenched vocals, high octane guitar, and a glorious drum solo outro. The band holds true to their blend 70’s blues driven British rock and balls-to-the-wall garage lo-fi across all five new tracks, while title track "Sugar" gets my nod as another song to pay special attention to.

If you braved the cold and the rain, you may have seen them a few nights ago at Origami Vinyl, but if you stayed warm at home then have no fear – Wake Up Lucid is packing April with a residency at the Silverlake Lounge.

Download "Paint Your Lips"

-Angelo Lorenzo

Philadelphia

AMP It Up! East Coast All-ages Music Summit at The Rotunda Feb. 26

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Get ready for a one of a kind forum on all things DIY and all ages. AMP It Up! East Coast All Ages Music Summit is a rare panel, training, and networking session designed for staff, volunteers, allies, and fans of all-ages music venues and youth music organizations, it’s happening at The Rotunda this evening. In honor of the release of the book In Every Town: An All-ages Music Manualfesto, this forum looks to bring likeminded peers together to figure out how they can strengthen young people’s access to the tools of participatory cultural production. So although they’re in for a busy weekend of fests, there’s a good chance that you might see some peeps from the likes of Danger Danger Gallery and The Ox in attendance, as well as some familiar musicians, especially since Ian MacKaye of Fugazi/Minor Threat/Dischord Records will be on hand as a keynote speaker. An event of this nature naturally wouldn’t be complete without some rockin’ live music, and one of the bands providing it will be Slutever who will be doing double duty today because they’ll also be hitting up 2 Piece Fest 4 at The Ox. The grrrls have been kicking ass and puffing bowls all over the place, and will be releasing their first vinyl Pretend to be Nice on Bantic Media (which can be pre-order with a limited edition screen printed stencil and poster here). So they’re sure to bring the shred before they get ready for SXSW! They’ll also be joined by SGNLS who have been hard at work on a full length LP, and our getting ready to tour with Drums Like Machine Guns in March. The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St., 5pm – 11pm, $5 – $15, All Ages – Bill McThrill
 
Philadelphia

Do You Need the Service? & Univox at JB’s Feb. 26

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Even though Philly’s Do You Need the Service? has been performing in these parts for three years now, they’re no strangers to the local music scene – bassist Justin Hallman has tracked time in Pros from Dover and Bitch Slicer, and saxist Mike Tranmontana jammed in Black Landlord and Afterdinner Mints. The four-piece instrumental rock outfit, which also includes keyboardist Tim Day and drummer Mark Sconyers, is also no stranger to attention. They received positive reviews for their latest album, I Hurl Myself Towards Glory, released in July, were mentioned in Metro and Philadelphia Weekly, and even landed a live gig on NBC 10. You can catch their fusion of rock, funk, jazz and new-wave tonight at Johnny Brenda’s, where they’ll play with local staples Univox, whose penchant for wickedly fierce, raucous noise makes them Deli favorites, and Brooklyn five-piece The Better Letters. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 Frankford Ave., 9pm, $10, 21+ – Annamarya Scaccia
 
New England

Calling all bands and fans: Streight Angular Want You For Their Music Video “Everyone is Syncopated”!

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Streight Angular

Streight Angular is filming their music video for the single "Everyone Is Syncopated" Saturday, February 26 at the Out of the Blue Gallery in Cambridge.

It’s a collaborative art project that they want everyone to participate in by bringing personal devices that record video (cell phones, digital cameras, etc) to film it themselves and that footage will be used as part of the video. They want to do special effects with it all, so if you are going to bring a camera, the band asks that you RSVP here.

They also ask that you bring props like stupid stuffed animals and blow up dolls and toy instruments or whatever you have lying around that’s cool and weird. That, also includes posters of N’Sync, they want it to be that ridiculous.

They also want to get as many local Boston bands in the video as possible. All participants will get credit in the credits reel as extras and camera people (if you help out with the recording).

The shoot begins at noon, but they ask that everyone get there for 11:30.

Out of the Blue Gallery
106 Prospect Street
Cambridge, MA 02139-2503

–The Deli Staff

 

New England

Tonight: 28 Degrees Taurus, Bella’s Bartok, Crewshall @ O’Brien’s.

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Bella's Bartok

This may be one of the most eclectic line-ups to ever grace the stage at O’Brien’s.

First up is Crewshall. Self-described as: "Boston’s hottest new band playing reggae, hip-hop, and latin riddims," they’ll be taking the stage tonight at 9:30. At 10:30, is Bella’s Bartok, a 10-piece intensely energetic band, they blend eastern European folk influences with gypsy punk. Headlining the show at 11:30 is 28 Degrees Taurus, the ambient psych-rock band known for their unique asian-folk melodies on guitar, chilling vocals, and their love of jagermeister.

So, if you find yourself in the mood for hip hop riddims, gypsy rock, and psychedelia, or for a night of energetic fun, get yourself over to O’briens.

O’Brien’s, 3 Harvard Ave. Allston
9pm, 21+, $8

–The Deli Staff

Philadelphia

Weekend Warrior, February 25 – February 27

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Good music comes in all kinds of numbers, but this weekend hooks up three very special festivals that celebrate solo artists, duos, and three-piece bands. 2 Piece Fest has been a success for 3 years now, and last years memorable lineup at The Ox touted amazing sets by the likes of Reading Rainbow, Hulk Smash, and Best Friends. In honor of its fourth year the fest organizers decided to branch out and deliver a 1 Piece Fest and a 3 Piece Fest at equally DIY minded venues. Tonight PhilaMOCA (formerly Mad Decent Mausoleum) plays hosts to solo artists such as legendary Dead Milkmen frontman Joe Jack Talcum, the especially talented Hop Along a.k.a. Frances Quinlan, and New York folk crooner Jeffery Lewis. On Saturday, 2 Piece Fest returns full force at The Ox with some familiar faces in Hulk Smash, Best Friends, Peter and Craig, and The Joint Chiefs of Math. But the stacked lineup also has plenty of our favorites like Sunny Ali & The Kid, Omar, Slutever, Erode and Disappear, and Heavy Medical. The weekend’s festivities wrap up Sunday at Danger Danger and the impressively rocked out 3 Piece Fest. Bands like Dry Feet, Band Name, and one of the top performers in our poll this year and recently reformed three-piece, Party Photographers, will be ready to melt faces. And headliner Algernon Cadwallader will be packing the gallery with their legions of fans. 1 Piece Fest – PhilaMOCA, 531 N. 12th St., 7:30pm, $8, All Ages; 2 Piece Fest – The Ox, (you should know by now or just ask a friend), 2 – 11pm, $8, All Ages, 3 Piece Fest – Danger Danger Gallery, 5013 Baltimore Ave., 8pm, $5 – $10 donation, All Ages (Photo by John Vettese)
 
More things to do if all these fests weren’t enough…
 
The Ox (you should know by now or ask a friend) FRI The Armchairs and Arrah & the Ferns
 
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI When I Was 12, SAT Do You Need Service? and Univox, SUN Folkadelphia w/Meg Baird
 
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) SUN Blood Feathers and The Cobbs
 
North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) FRI Cannons and Mater Mathu
 
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Old Rival Hope, SAT The Codes and Hunters Cannon
 
M Room (15 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Coppertonic and Lokatone, SUN Spirit & Dust and The Tressels
 
Tritone (1508 South St.) FRI Creepoid and Lux Perpetua, SAT Sugartown w/Thee Nosebleeds
 
Millcreek Tavern (4200 Chester Ave.) FRI Lost Coves
 
Highwire Gallery (2040 Frankford Ave.) FRI Dan Blacksberg Trio, SAT Eric Carbonara
 
JR’s Bar (2327 S. Croskey St.) SUN Leiana
 
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI Kuf Knotz and Mutlu, SUN Sonni Shine and the Underwater Sounds
 
The Blockley (3801 Chestnut St.) FRI Steppin Razor
 
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) FRI (Early) John Train, (Late) Dan Collins, SAT Consenting Adults
 
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) FRI Giant Mind and Cozy Galaxies
 
Greenline Café (4239 Locust St.) SAT Snow Caps Album Release Show w/ Lux Perpetua
 
The Rotunda (4014 Walnut St.) SAT AMP It Up! East Coast All-ages Music Summit  w/Slutever and SGNLS
 
Triumph Brewing (117 Chestnut St.) SAT West Philadelphia Orchestra
 
The Legendary Dobbs (304 South St.) FRI DeSoto Rust, Avi Wisnia, Stolen Rhodes, SAT Lamagier, La Violencia, The Elctric Boa, Liat
 
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) SAT Yeah Clementine
 
NYC

Keren Ann releases new album “101” + video, plays NYC in June

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Having grown up in Israel, then moving to France and the Netherlands before coming to habit NY, there’s something to Keren Ann‘s music that sounds foreign and familiar at once. Her coffeehouse storyteller themes are universal enough to be heard in a variety of settings (you’ve probably heard her before in any number of HBO shows), but intimate enough to allow you to relate to what she’s singing about on your own terms.
Not only has she lived in some of the coolest places on earth (Paris, Amsterdam, Nolita, NY…), she’s also resided in a huge array of musical locations as well. From the all French singing of her first two records, to Biographie De Luka Philipsen’s trip-hop, Keren Ann has a rare ability to make very diverse styles orbit around her gentle energy without ever sounding like a tourist.
Always a great storyteller, Keren Ann becomes the muse for otherwise anonymous figures on her 6th solo album 101 (out Feb 28 on Blue Note Records), unexpectedly recalling early Goldfrapp and even Blonde Redhead in the record’s first single, "My Name Is Trouble" (see video). These are areas I haven’t heard her step into before, and she handles it as if she’s been working with dance patterns her whole career.
She won’t be in our area until the summer (The Bell House June 7), so you should have plenty of time to catch up on your French by then. Au revoir! – Mike Levine